"And here let me remind you of another remarkable fact: that precisely at the commencement of the era, which has been mentioned, began also, the first decided movements in Providence, towards the renovation of the Africans. The Revolution in St. Domingo commenced in 1791-and the final establishment of the English Colony at Sierra Leone was effected in 1792.

“It is remarkable, moreover, that within the same period, the most unwearied exertions have been made, for the abolition of the slave trade, and that every civilized nation, except two, have now agreed to consider it as unlawful.

"Finally, it has been within the same period that the system of Colonization for people of Color, has been deyised; and it is in reference to this view, the final renovation of Africa-that this interesting movement, has, as appears to me, its greatest importance. This Society was formed in the year 1816 at the city of Washington, and by some of the first of our great and good men from every portion of the United States. They purposed it primarily as a system of relief for two millions of fellow men in our own country—a population dangerous to ourselves and necessarily degraded here: but their ultimate object was even greater than this, and they extended their hopes to no less a consummation than the civilization and christianity of a whole continent.

"And thus far this noble enterprise has decidedly prospered. Expe riencing as yet no patronage but that of charity and voluntary association, it has effected the establishment of a colony of more than 1700 blacks on the western shore of Africa, who have already attained to all the advantages of a free and civilized community."

Mr. Dickinson's sermon contains much valuable matter. We wish that the facts and arguments which it exhibits, might be considered by every citizen of the United States. It is written with great perspicuity and energy. The following remarks deserve the serious attention of every member of our State and National Legislature.

"In considering the practicability of the colonizing enterprise, another inquiry is still presented.

“5. Has our country the resources demanded for the accomplishment of an object of such magnitude? The transportation of more than two millions of souls to a remote country is indeed an object of formidable aspect. It obviously cannot be accomplished at once. But that the number can be gradually diminished, till utterly extinguished, may be made to appear, it is believed, from a little arithmetical calculation. Let the object be to prevent by transportation the future increase of this people, and to reduce annually but a little the original stock, and who can fail to perceive the importance and glory of the enterprise? And can this object be achieved by such means as the country can readily bring to bear upon it?

"The annual increase of the free blacks is estimated to be two and a half per cent. and that of the slaves to be three per cent. The last census be ing taken as the data of calculation, the actual increase of the former would be annually six thousand, and of the latter forty-six thousand;—or of both united fifty-two thousand.—The average expense of each emigrant, young and old, including passage money and subsistence, is found by the experience of the Society to be twenty dollars. It is supposed it may yet be considerably reduced.—The annual cost of transporting the contem. plated number to the coast of Africa, then, would be one million and forty thousand dollars. Here is the tax to be levied upon the United States, for the purpose of opposing an effectual barrier to the growth of an evil which the united voice of the land is beginning loudly to deplore—an evil, which, if not arrested, must inevitably lead to results on which the eye looks with horror. And can this tax be paid. Assessed upon the ten mil lions of white population equally, it would be nine and a half cents for each-or about fifty cents for each family. And where is the family that cannot pay its full proportion? Let the man of princely estate withhold the generous donation he might spare as well as not, and who would still be burdened by the expense of this mighty enterprise? Assessed upon the professed disciples of the benevolent Saviour of all denominations, the tax would be about one dollar annually for each. Let the church alone, then, assume the burden-the church, solemnly pledged for works of benevolence-and who will harbour the apprehension that she must be impoverished? And what Christian, calculating soon to exchange all earthly possessions for the imperishable glories of the upper world, will clinch the dollar that might perpetuate the liberties of his country, contribute to rescue thousands from deep affliction, and shed the blessings of civilization and the gospel over a continent?

"Let such a tide of public sentiment in favour of the project be raised as to justify the General Government in assuming the pecuniary burden, and who honestly believes that any of the great interests of the country would suffer? Is a nation like this to be embarrassed by an annual appropriation of little more than a million of dollars to the cause of humani. ty?-a nation that can extinguish in a year twelve millions of national debt, and at the same time prosecute with vigour its majestic plans of defence and of internal improvement?—a nation, one of whose States can hazard six millions of dollars on the project of opening a single canal'—a nation, whose canvass whitens every sea, and proudly enters almost every harbour of the globe?-a nation whose villages and cities are rising as by magic overa fertile territory of two millions of square miles?—a nation destined within the compass of the passing century to embosom a white population of eighty millions? With the past smiles of Divine Providence, our national debt will soon be annihilated. And from that glad hour let the government provide liberally for all its necessary operations-let it

push forward every wheel in its splendid machinery of political improve. ment, and then give to our cause but the surplus of its revenue; and, as regards the expense of transportation, it will furnish the means of granting to every African exile among us a happy home in the land of his fathers within the compass of six years.-Let it bestow but half the amount of the expense of our last war, and it would enable the Society to accomplish all at which its benevolence grasps. Let the community make for the object an annual offering equal to that which it taxes itself for intoxicating liquors; and it would enable the Society to purchase from their bondage at a fair price, the entire slave population of our country in five, or at most six years. And the offering would lay the axe at the root of the tree as regards the two deadliest evils in the land.

"Whether, then, the burden of this enterprise be sustained by the voluntary contributions of the community, or by the resources of the civil government, it cannot be the occasion of suffering to the nation. The money can be spared without seriously abridging individual comfort or national improvement.

Report of the Vermont Col. Society.

We rejoice to perceive that our friends in Vermont are not weary in well doing. Their Report gives evidence that this Institution, among the earliest and most liberal auxiliaries to our Society, still holds on its way with undiminished liberality, resolution and hope.

REPORT:

One of the methods which the wise Ruler of the universe has adopted for bringing good out of evil is, to require those who possess to give to those who are in want. By such an arrangement, are all blessed. The wants and woes of the wretched furnish the occasion of a sweet alleviation, and of much positive enjoyment from the hand of philanthropy; while, in communicating these the philanthropist himself enjoys, in giving, a still greater happiness. All benevolent institutions are therefore fountains of enjoyment to their members. And the enjoyment they confer is, doubtless, in some degree, proportioned to the greatness of the object at which they aim, and to the success which attends their operations. Among these institutions, the society whose anniversary we are assembled to celebrate, holds an honourable rank. We say nothing to the disparagement of other charitable societies. These form a bright constellation of luminaries that adorn and bless the age in which it is our happi

ness to live, and we doubt not are destined to bless the generations to come, to the latest time. Most cordially we wish them an overflowing treasury, an efficient and powerful agency, and, success transcending even their most sanguine hopes. Nor do we doubt that these wishes are reciprocated.

Our anniversary, like that of all kindred institutions, furnishes a pleasing opportunity for mutual congratulation; while standing as it were on some little eminence that overlooks the surrounding region, we survey the ground we have gained, and contemplate the prospect that opens before us.

The population of the Colony of Liberia is probably at this time, not less than seventeen hundred. All its interests, it appears, are prosperous; but the death of Dr. Anderson, Assistant Agent and Physician of the Colony, has called the inhabitants again to mourning, while yet their tears for their beloved Ashmun and his worthy successor, Randall, had not ceased to flow. It seems evident, beyond a question, that the sending of white men to Africa is inexpedient, except so far as may be considered absolutely necessary to the safety of the Colony. Beyond this, it seems an unwarrantable waste of valuable lives. At the same time, we should contemplate with adoring gratitude, the goodness of that Providence which has raised up men willing to encounter the perils of the climate, and not counting their lives dear, when the exigencies of the Colony have called for their services. Their memory is enshrined in the hearts of the Colonists, and of their friends in America; and we doubt not that millions of Africans shall one day rise up and call them blessed.

In

While various melancholy facts have shown that white men cannot expect to live long in the Colony, evidence, no less conclusive, has been given, that the climate is congenial to the constitution of the negro, and that Africa is his proper home. the possession of a country luxuriantly fertile, watered by noble rivers, with no winter to obstruct the progress of vegetation, possessing great commercial advantages, with an extent of one hundred and fifty to two hundred miles of sea coast, with an active commerce; enjoying the friendship of the neighbouring tribes, who are eagerly seeking the advantages which the Colony affords for intellectual improvement, and for acquiring a

knowledge of the useful arts; with schools for the instruction of most of the children of the Colony; with houses of worship and religious instruction for the whole population; with a constitution and laws modified according to the peculiar circumstances of the Colony, securing to the people the enjoyment of civil and religious liberty; Liberia stands at this moment a noble monument of American Philanthropy, and promises at no distant period, to present to the eye of benevolence, an extensive and flourishing republic; blessing Africa with its light, and cheering her afflicted children with the promise of universal emancipation. Every year the cause of colonization gains in the confidence and the affections of the American people. State Societies have been formed in fifteen of the states, and the county and town auxiliaries amount to more than one hundred and fifty. The legislatures of thirteen states have passed resolutions approving of the object of the Society, eleven of which have instructed their senators, and requested their representatives in Congress, to use their influence for the furtherance of it in the national councils.

The pecuniary patronage which the Society has received, it is believed, has been greater the present year than ever before. Collections on or near the fourth of July, have been more numerous than ever, and there is much reason to hope will continue to increase, till every worshipping assembly in the nation shall forward its annual contribution to the Society's treasury.

Thirty subscriptions of one hundred dollars a year, for ten years, are announced as having been made to the noble devise of Gerrit Smith, Esq. to raise for the Society, by such subscriptions, in ten years, one hundred thousand dollars. We pause to ask, "Is there no individual in Vermont who can afford himself the happiness of adding one to the list of these subscriptions?" Eighteen subscriptions of fifty dollars each have been obtained on the plan proposed for raising twenty thousand dollars.

Meanwhile, the wants of the Society are increasing more rapidly than its funds. The last Report of the Parent Society states that applications for a passage to Africa have been made for about one thousand free persons of colour, and six hundred slaves, and that information has been received from a respecta